Photographic shutter with cover blade and magnetic retarding means



Oct. 25, 1949. M. KAPLowl-rz 2,436,169

` PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTERS WITH COVER BLADE v AND MAGNETIC RETARDING MEANS Filed Feb. 15 194'? INVENTOR;

Y Miky/mfg sheets-'sheet 1 t M. KAPLOWITZ PHOTOGRAHIC SHUTTERS WITH COVER BLADE ocu 25, 1949.

AND MAGNETIC RETARDING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yFiled Feb. 15, 1947 IN VEN TOR.' /f/ @Olga/Z22 Mlm.

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 Nl TED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTER- WITH .COVER BLADE AND MAGNETIC, RETARDING .MEANS "Morris Kaplowitz, Brooklyn, Y., assignor to FederalManutacturing la Engineering Corp., a :corporation ,of New York Application February 15, 1947, 'Serial No. 728,812

5 Claims. '1

The yinvention relates -to photography and relates' more particularly to shutters 4for photographic cameras.

One of the principal objects of the invention lis'to'provi'de a camera 'shutter with which a slow speed exposure vcan be'made.

VAnmtherfobject of my invention is "to provide `such a shntterwith adjusting 'means for varying the speedof exposure.

Another 'object' of my invention is to provide such a shutter Ywith magnetic means to 'retard 'the shutter blade during its exposure movement Vwhen-"the bla-deis in exposure position.

Another obect of lmy invention is to vprovide such. a shutter with a Akeeper Vfor -the magnetic means 'for conservngthe magnetismthereoi A Afurther object of my invention iis to provide a :camera Ashi-Itter `with a uniform 'slowlspeed dur- -ingr exposure operation.

A still y'further object of my invention is .th provision vof magnetic `driving means for impellingthe shutter Lto make an vexposure kmovement.

Further l:objects and .advantages of the inven- 4tion will be set Vforth in part in the following specification and in part-will be obvious there- *from without' being specifi-cally referred to, the .same :being realized and attained as :pointed out "inthe claims'hereof.

Desirable features `for 'camera shutters include -meansl for relatively slow exposure speeds and, 'since the use of weak `shutter springs is often the ycause -o'f uncertain rand unpredictable exposure itimesfshuttersare Agenerally provid-ed with strong spr-ings and Aretarzling devices. However, :for inexpensive cameras 'it vis uneconomical to use complicated retarding mechanisms, such vas `are'employedsfxn'more Ielaborate shutters, andthe ,photographic .industry has tried to solve the problem'of making an .accurate retarder which L easy to assemble ,yet-.quite inexpensive, with varying success.l The .demand vfor .low .cost and .for .enicient ,retarding produced, .in .the past, various .compromises wherein .extreme simplicity rhad often to besacriiced .for workability and dependability.

I'have lprovided a camera shutterwith a, retardingdevice "which is most 'simple and `very dependable and, at the same time, adjustable to 'various speeds andy 'compares `laworably with shutters of the Aelaborate type vwithout exceeding 'the cost normally associated with inexpensive shutters.

With the above and other objects of the yinvention in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination lof'various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the Same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the specificati-on.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. '1 is a `plan View of `a Shutter casing removed from a camera showing the shutter parts in Positi-on for an exposure;

Fig. 2 is Ia View similar to Fig. 1, but showing the shutter parts in position of the beginning of` an instantaneous exposure;

Fig. Sis a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the trigger vdepressed and the shutter blade halted in its intermedi-ate `position to produce a prolonged exposure;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 ofFig. 1;

v11'.g.'5'is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shutter blade removed v"fromthe shutter Fig. 7 isa sectional view of the cover blind taken along line 'l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing a fragment only and embodying a modication;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan viewv of a ymodified retarding device removed from the shutter;

1`0 isa fragmentary perspective view of a further modication;

Fig. l1 is. a plan view of a modified shutter with .the shutter cover plate removed and showing a retarder;

Fig. 12 is a 4fragmentary elevational view as seen along line I2-l2 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. '13 is a fragmentary extended view, in perspective, of a shutter blade and magnetic power means.

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which I have selected for illustration :in the accompanying drawings and for vdescription in this specication, I provide a simple shutter mechanism, generally designated 2|, of well .known `construction which is disposed in a shutter casing 22. A wall 23 separates said shutter casing from the camera interior and has a centrally located exposure opening 24 through which light may be admitted to sensitize a lm held in the camera interior. Said opening 24 is normally covered by a shutter blade 26 which is movable between a position of rest (Fig. 1) and a set position (Fig. 2) and is adapted to uncover said opening 24 during an exposure movement from the set position to the rest position. Said shutter blade 26 has an arcuate aperture 21 which will register with said opening 24 during the exposure movement of the shutter blade. Said shutter blade is rotatably mounted on a pivot 28 which is secured to and projects from said separating wall 23. A driving spring 29 is connected at one end to said casing 22 and at the other end to a portion of the shutter blade which is opposite to the aperture 21 with respect to the pivot 28.

Said shutter blade has an outer edge 3l which 7,

ing 24 during the setting movement of the shutter blade to prevent the passage of light through said opening when said aperture 21 is temporarily in register therewith. Said cover blind is mounted on a pivot 34 and in its restI position extends 1I- at one side over the exposure opening 24 and over a portion or" said shutter blade 26 and forms on the other side integrally a trigger S6 extending to the exterior of said shutter casing 22 for permitting manual actuation of the shutter mechanism 2| b-y the operator.

A tension spring 31 resiliently connects said cover blind 33 to the casing 22 for returning the cover blind to its initial position of rest which is shown in Fig. l. of said cover blind 33 which is oppositely disposed to the trigger 36 with respect to the pin 34 is lforming a cam 38. Said cam 38 cooperates with said pin 32 of said shutter blade to move the latter to a set position when the trigger 36 is i,

depressed by the operator. Following the setting movement, when the shutter blade 26 has reached its set position, the pin 32 will slip off the cam edge 38 (as illustrated in Fig. 2), and the shutter blade 28 will automatically start on its exposure movement under the impulse of the driving spring 29. During that exposure movement which is entirely independent of the control of the operator, the cover blind 33 remains in its set position owing to the continued manual downward pressure exerted by the operator against the trigger 36. After the exposure, upon manual release of the trigger 3-6 the tension spring 31 will move the cover blind towards its initial position of rest. During that return movement the cover blind 33 engages by its shallow tapering groove 4| (see Fig. 7) the pin 32, thus permitting the cover blind to pass over the pin and again take up its initial rest position.

A time exposure lever 42 is pivotally mounted to the separating wall 23 and manually operable from the exterior of the casing 22 (not shown in detail). When the lever 42 is turned from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. v3, it will move the shutter blade '26 until the aper- A portion of the outer edge ture thereof is in register with the exposure opening 24. Time exposures are then performed by simply depressing the trigger 36 whereby the cover blind 33 sets the shutter blade which, after release, will return to the time position abutting against the lever 42, as shown in Fig. 3.

Returning now to the description of instantaneous exposure and referring particularly to Fig. l, the driving spring 29 is a relatively powerful coiled spring which is capable of returning the comparatively light shutter blade to its initial position upon release from the cover blind, regardless in what position the camera is held by the operator. Due to the strength of the spring 29, the returning motion of the shutter blade is very last and consequently the exposure time is extremely short.

In order to increase the exposure time to a period which will allow the taking of satisfactory photographic pictures under normal circumstances, I provide magnetic retarding means to slow the speed of the shutter blade during the exposure, as' will be presently explained. The presence cf magnetic means within the shutter casing, however, necessitates the provision to make preferably all parts, not directly contributing to the retarding means, of non-magnetic material, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Consequently, the shutter casing 22, the pivots 28 and 34, the springs 29 and 31, the cover blind 3'3, the pin 32, the lever 42, and, in certain instances, the shutter blade 26, will preferably be made of non-magnetic material, such as brass or copper, plastic or ber, or other suitable material. If this provision were not made and the parts were susceptible of magnetization, most or" them would soon become magnetized by the presence in the shutter casing of a permanent magnet and the accuracy of the mechanism would deteriorate.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 6, I provide a permanent magnet 43 that may be, for

instance, a horseshoe type magnet; the magnet 43 is spaced from the outer edge 3| of the shutter blade 26 when it is in its rest position. Preferably, this permanent magnet 43 is composed of high-energy alloys, mainly of aluminum, nickel, copper, cobalt and iron, for instance of an alloy known under the trade names Alnico, Cunico, ComoLy Vectolite and Silmanal, having the property of retaining its magnetism for a practically indefinite time; though small in size, this type magnet is surrounded by a relatively powerful magnetic iield. A small magnetizable element composed of a strip of iron 44 is mounted to the shutter blade 26 at the outer edge 3| and `projects therefrom for a distance and is located adjacent the midway portion of the arcuate aperture 21 of the shutter blade. This strip 44 is secured to the edge 3| of the shutter blade by solder 46 or by any other suitable, well known means.

During the exposure movement of the shutter blade, the strip 44 will pass adjacent the magnet 43 and thereby through the magnetic field thereof at the moment when the aperture 21 is in register with the opening 24 and will be retarded through the magnetic influence of the magnet 43 on the strip 44; this influence will have a maximum effect when the two elements, the magnet and the strip, are opposite each other like in the position shown in Fig. 3. The two elements, however, never touch each other and the magnetic force therebetween is suiiicient to retard the speed but insuilicintf 13o-bring Vto a halt the exposure 'movement of thefshutterrblade. y

The two elements,i the magnetglle and thcstrip @'44, Aalthmigh yalways"beingspaced are separated in their position o'f closest 'proximity (Fig. 3) y'only for an 'extremely small f'sp'ac'e, much smaller in fact `than "the drawing fadmits' A of iillus'tration. This extremely small space is necessitated for l"a good working effect, `since the elements fare `small insiz'e and the magnetic `-intluencecorr- 'e'pondingly .restricted in power. lIt 'l willV be 'understood, itlie'refore, y'that the lshowing 'in the 'draw- `ingis'orily-"by vway of 'illustration andfdoes fnot Iliiices'sarily accurately represent vthe dimensions involvedfaswill-be readily comprehensive totho'se skill'f'e'd `iin "this `and related arts. type 'retarder approximatesth'e optimum reta'rdi'n'g condition, namely-providing 'for retarding'1 only 'at the fmoinent of exposure and permit- I'tin'g increased-'speed before and after the eX- posure. In order to accentuate that effect, the strip 'of iron '44 asfbest'illustrated in Fig. '6 may ipreferabl'y be 'tapered and 'have 'a mass `which 'is unequall'y Ybut symmetrically distributed vover thellehgthfof -lthefstrip 44, so that the mass will beffgre'ates'ta'tthebenter thereof, whereby the retarding -of the speed vwill be gradual -as the :strip approaches the magnet during its path, andthe Vtaking lup `of `speed after passing `the vmagnet will falso be gradual.

'Ihe magnet 43 is 'conr'iectedto an arm 4l by means of a square pin 48 which protrudes through alongitudi'nal slot "49 ofsaidseparating wall 23. Thellong-itudinal extensionof said slot 419 is in :adirection'to'wards said -pin 28 the pin 48 'is movable in said slot rv'4S for shifting said mag- 'net -1'43 between two opposite extreme positions, ofgreate'stproximity and greatest distance, with rrelfa'tion'toi'thelpath of saidfstrip 'of iron 44. The space between these two extreme positions is, of necessity, quite small, as adistance increase between 4'the twoele'inents 43 and-44 reduces the magnetic iniiue'nce ltherebetween at theratc of the square `ro'otofsaid increase in distance.

Said arm j'4l-is gui.dedalong thel surface of said separating Wa1lf23 @and 'extends to the exterior 'of the casing l221-and l'carries a toothed'rack "5i .wh-ichi'sin mesh with a-pinion '52, to which a lever 55 f'isc'on'n'ected extending to the exterior bf th'e'fcasinglZS', `for manual-shifting of said fm'a'gnet Said `lever 55 Sis -swingable in opposite y directions;asiindicated byf an arrow- 5t, to change 'the positio'npf the magnetvlli. 'The'outsidefof Athe-lc'asing'i mayrcarryagraduati'on at 53 oppo- :site fthe 'lever .E5 'to indicate the 'shutter speed, -W-hich"is notshown =in`detail in the illustrated views.

. A keeper '56' islpro'vided for the magnet 43 which is composed. of iron and normally in contact `with .or .very near vthe magnet 43. As best shown in Fig. '7, vthe keeperis secured 'to the top of the ycover blind 33, and penetrates through a slot `thereof'to extend infronty of the magnet 43, when 'the cover blind'33 isin rest position.

ln the foregoing, the'twoelernents whichexert 'magnetic influence upon each other and constitute the magnetic means were described as so distributed that the element which is mounted on the shutter blade is non-magnetic, but may be magnetized,.and the other element, which-is` stationary with 4relation to the movement of the .rst element, v.consists .of a magnet. The positionslof 'magnet :andiron strip may be reversed lhoweverrand-:the shutterzbladermay carry. the per- :manentimagnet andthestripfo'f iron'accordingly attraction or repulsion.

'Instead 'of fastening one o'fthefrnagnetic flements to theshuttenblade', the shutterfblade itself may constitute'- the secondelement. Theretarding however, willhere be di'iieientfromthe foregoing d'escl'iibed i"procedure, since it Awill be more or less uniform over the entire exposure movement vand lwill be `ronly enhanced at vthe moment of exposure asth'e shutter lblade isfformed with a projection at the place which wa'sfoccu- 4pied Iin the former modi'cationb'y 'the `iron strip `54. In this `to fbe made or magnetisab1e1rnaterial, and `this modication, `the shutter blade fhafs forms one o'f theexceptions 'to the Apreviously mentioned condition that all shutter 1 parts 'be non-magnetic, referred to in the earlierpa-rt-of ythe description.

Still furthermore, theen'tire shutterbladenifay -be-r'nade of magnetic-material land so constitute the magnet 'of th-edevice, lin'iiuen'cing a `shi'ftabl'e magnetizable "element which takes the place occupied bythe magnetd'in the "firstI of thefo'regoing embodiments.

Further inodiiications embodying magnetic means for retarding are shown in Figs. 8-'1`2; this subject matter is claimed in my l13o-'pending application, Ser. No. y'10`6 ;.1.l4,tiled July '22, 1949; referring now particularly to "Fig 8, I provide a permanent magnete? inform of'a star wheel having a plural-ity of symmetrically disposed arms 6 i; said star wheel magnet 51 is securedto the shutter blade '-26 and 'mounted' coneentrically therewith on thepivot'Z'B forinoving in concentric rotation with the shutter blade. 'The star wheel is shown with arms 6l disposed 'along the 'periphery of a-circle. However, in order v'tohave greater retardation V"at a V'certain position 'of the blade 2S than atother positions, two or more opposite arms ffii may be made longer than the remaining arms '(not shown in detail). A C- shaped member 53 partially `'surrounds the contour of said star wheelmagnet 51 and is made'of iron or other suitable material responsive to magnetic influence. Saidmember 58 has two oppo- `sitely disposed ends 59 which normally lie adjacent two opposite arms "Si of the star wheel '51. The space between each arm''Q-and the adjacent arm dl of the star wheel-is Lfeirtren'xely small and, as previously has-'been pointed out, the dimensions 'o'f thefdrawin'gs in 'this respect shouid be understood to be konly illustrative, in this 'View as well as the remaining fviews.

The member 58 constitutes the second element of said magnetic r'etarding means and yforms at the same 'time a keeper for the magnet as, in the normal position,'lines of magnetic-'force passfrom 'the magnet through one en'd59 o'f the member 58 and return to thefmagnet through the other vend '59. Similarly to the previous modilications said C-shaped member '58 forming the second element of said magnetic means is mounted on a shiftable arm B2 and is movable thereby in a simi lar manner for selectively changing the exposure speed of the shutter blade, although the construc- "tion is not repeated here in detail. The arms '6| of the 'star wheel'll may be pointed as shown in Fig. 8, or may bee-rectangular, as shown in Fig.

.9 and designatedifor still further, may be bent consist of a permanent magnet and the star wheel may be made of iron, so as to be responsive to the magnetic influence of said member 56. This reversal does not influence the effective operation of the retarder, since the action of magnetic retarding resides in the magnetic influence intermediate the movable element and the relatively stationary element regardless of which of these elements is surrounded by a magnetic field and which cooperates in the retarding force by entering the magnetic field of the other element.

The use of any magnetic retarder is not restricted to a particular type shutter, such as the single blade shutter in association with which it has been described in the foregoing, or to photographic shutters altogether and may equally well be utilized for retarding other mechanisms.

In Fig. ll, for the purpose of further exemplication, I have illustrated magnetic retarding means in connection with a multi-leaf shutter 66 of well known type, which includes a control ring (not shown) to operate shutter leaves 61, a spring controlled setting lever 68, a master member 89 and a trigger 1| adapted to be latched temporarily to the master member 69 after the latter has been set. A cam 12 is associated with said master member 69 for controlling a retarding mechanism 13. Said retarding mechanism comprises a pivoted gear segment 14 to which a lever 16 is connected the free end of which is resiliently pressed against said cam 12 and constitutes a cam follower therefor. A gear train 11 is in driving engagement with said gear segment 14 and is adapted to be operated thereby. Said gear train 11 serves the purpose of increasing the angular velocity of succeeding gears in a direction from the gear segment to the other, free end of said gear train. At said free end a star type permanent magnet 51 is secured to the last gear and concentrically pivotally mounted therewith and is partially surrounded by a C-shaped member 58 similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 8. Said C-shaped member 58 is carried by one leg of an L-shaped arm 18, the other leg thereof extending l to the exterior of the shutter casing and secured there to a knurled knob 19. Said knob 19 is movable in opposite directions as illustrated by an arrow 8l for shifting the position of said C-shaped member 58 thus changing the magnetic retarding influence when the gear train is operated and varying the angular speed of the star wheel 51, whereby the shutter exposure speed will be varied. Instead of coupling the C-shaped member for direct move with the knob 19, any well known reducing mechanism may be interposed therebetween to reduce the extent of movement of the C-shaped member to a smaller rate compared to that of the knob 19, so that a relatively long distance covered by the movement of the latter may be translated to a very small movement of the former, for allowing only substantially a minute movement for the C-shaped member, whereby the magnetic influence between the same and the star wheel will nevertheless be materially changed, as

has been hereinabove explained.

Said knob 19 carries an indicator 82 adjacent a gradation 83 which is carried on a strip 84. Said strip 84 is movable in opposite directions, as indicated by an arrow 86 for adjusting the position screws 88 protrude which fasten the strip to the Wall of the shutter casing 89. By loosening the screws 88 the strip 84 may be shifted to a desired position and subsequently the screws be tightened again.

This shifting of the strip 84 is designed to compensate for any losses of the magnetic force in the permanent magnet 51 which may take place over a protracted period of time. Normally, this loss is extremely small, but since the type shutter shown in Fig. 1l is designed to give extremely accurate exposure times, this adjustment is provided to permeate the high degree of precision of these shutters. Instead of using a star wheel of the type shown in detail in Fig. 8, any other type of star wheels of Fig. 9 or 10 may also herein be employed, if desired, or other similar star wheels.

In a preferred construction, however, an additional cam 15 is provided near the free end of said lever 16 and movable in the direction of an arrow 80 by means of a manual moving mechanism (not shown) so that the length of exposure time may thus be controlled in a conventional manner. In this embodiment, the shifting of the C-shaped member 58 is used only for adjustment, to correct the shutter speeds, should any change thereof have taken place, after the shutter has left the factory where it was made.

Since the retarding device 13 of this shutter is located at a distance from the other parts of the shutter, it will be sufficient to make the casing 89 and the gear train 11 of non-magnetic material, whereas the remainder of the parts are not subject to this restriction, without risking the danger of magnetization of the entire shutter mechanism.

Magnetic means may also advantageously be employed in a shutter mechanism for moving the shutter blade to make an exposure. In Fig. 13, I have shown a shutter blade 26 similar to that illustrated in Fig. l, pivotally mounted in a shutter casing 22 and operated by a cover blind (not shown in this drawing) as previously explained. A rectangularly shaped magnet 9| is secured to the shutter blade 26 at the pivot point thereof. A second magnet 92, preferably of C-shaped structure, is mounted extremely near said rst magnet 9| with the free opposite ends turned towards the same, but is spaced therefrom and is carried on one end of a shaft 93 which extends to the exterior at the front wall of the shutter casing 94 and is secured there to a shifting lever 96. Said shifting lever 96 may be shifted between two positions, one marked I for instantaneous exposures and the other marked T" for time exposures. In Fig. 13, said lever 96 is shown in a position for instantaneous exposures and since the north pole of one magnet in this position faces the south pole of the other magnet, the shutter blade, although it is not provided with a driving spring, will always return to the initial position of rest after it has been moved therefrom to a set position by a cover blind and subsequently been released of its engagement therewith.

The magnetic force replaces here the driving spring, which offers distinct advantages over spring driven constructions. Since the power of a spring is resilient, a shutter rebound often takes place after the exposure movement with a result- 75 ing subsequent second exposure of the lm. This is prevented eiectivelybythe'magnetic means, as; magneticforce: is notl resilient'.- but' strongly forces the shutter blade to stay; inthe-rest position after the exposure movement.. Eurthermore, the driving' force' ofa- 'spring` increases in linear relation with the longitudinal.' extension of the spring.: therefore. the greatest; driving: force is appliedagainstk the. shutterat.: the'. beginning of the exposureamovement.resultingfin a rapidlstart off said movement. with?. a: consequent rapid. exzposure speed, unless a separate retarder is provided. Magnetic force, on the other hand, is characterized by a rapid decrease with increasing distance-of square root ratio--resulting in a slow exposure movement at the beginning with a consequent longer exposure time.

When the lever 96 is shifted to the position of time exposure, the second magnet 92 is rotated to a position diierent from that shown in Fig. 13, and the shutter blade after it has been moved to a set position will be driven by the magnet in a return movement, but will come to rest at a timeexposure position wherein the shutter aperture 27 is in register with the exposure opening 24.

In order to decrease the shutter speed, a separate magnetic retarding device may be provided of the type illustrated in Fig. l.

I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction set forth in the foregoing specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refer to and set forth only certain embodiments of the invention. and it is obvious that the same may be modied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. Magnetic retarding means, for use in connection with a camera shutter mechanism including a shutter casing, a reciprocably movable shutter blade, and a cover blind movable to and from a normal rest position and adapted to actuate said blade, said retarding means comprising a magnet disposed in said shutter casing and independent of the movement of said shutter blade, a magnetizable element connected to said shutter blade and adapted to cooperate with said magnet to retard the movement of said shutter blade, and keeping means mounted on said cover blind and normally disposed suiliciently near said magnet when the cover blind is at rest for restraining loss of magnetic energy thereof and to be removed from said magnet when the cover blind is moved from its rest position.

2. Magnetic retarding means, for use in connection with a camera shutter mechanism including a shutter casing having an exposure opening, a shutter blade in said casing having an aperture and reciprocably movable about a pivot to register said aperture with said exposure opening, and a cover blind movable to and from a rest position and adapted to actuate said blade to make an exposure, said retarding means comprising a magnetizable element associated with said shutter blade and movable therewith in an arcuate path, a magnet disposed in said casina' adjacent the path of said element and located outside the area covered by said blade and said element during their movement, said element and said magnet arranged to be substantially opw positely disposed when said aperture and opening are in register to exert a maximum magnetic inluence in that position` for-momentarily'retardingthe speed of'the shutterblade, and akeeper" connected to said cover blind and disposed adjacent said magnet when said cover-blind is at rest position.

3. Magnetic retarding'meansf, foruseinconnection with a camera shutterdisposed in a casing and includingv a reciprocablyl movable spring tensional" shutterblade' and a springv tensionedcoverfblindfor actuating said blade and movable to and from a rest position, said retarding means comprising a magnetizable element connected to said shutter blade and movable therewith in a predetermined path, a magnet disposed in said casing adjacent the path of said element and movable independently of said blade towards and from said path to adjust the magnetic influence exerted upon said element for adjustably retarding the speed of said shutter blade, and a keeper connected to said cover blind and disposed adjacent said magnet when said cover blind is at rest and movable with said cover blind to be separated from said magnet when the cover blind is moved, said keeper covering an area sufficiently large to prevent the loss of magnetic energy of said magnet when the cover blind is at rest independently of the position to which the magnet has been adjusted.

4. In a photographic shutter, the combination with a shutter casing having an exposure opening therein, a shutter mechanism adapted to cover and to uncover said exposure opening including a movable shutter blade, and means for operating said shutter mechanism including movable means actuable for moving said shutter blade to make an exposure, of magnetic means arranged to retard the exposure movement of said shutter blade comprising a movable element connected to said shutter blade and movable therewith in a predeterminedpath, a second element mounted in said casing adjacent the path of movement of said movable element spaced therefrom and movable in opposite directions at an angle to said path, said elements so disposed that they will be facing each other across a minimal distance during the exposure position of said blade, one of said elements inciuding a permanent magnet and the other element including a magnetizable member adapted to be magnetically influenced by said magnet when said elements are sufficiently close to each other to retard said blade movement, and

' keeping means connected to said blade moving means and movable by said means to be normally disposed sulciently near said magnet for restraining loss of magnetic energy thereof and to be moved away from said magnet by said blade moving means upon actuation thereof.

5. In a photographic shutter mechanism, the combination with an apertured movable shutter blade normally in a position of rest, a cover blind normally in a rest position and adapted to be actuated to move the shutter blade to a set position, and means for returning the shutter blade to its original position of rest, of magnetic means: arranged to retard the movement of said shutter blade comprising an element including a magnet and an element including a magnetizable member adapted to cooperate with said magnet, one of said elements connected to said shutter blade and movable therewith and the other element disposed adjacent said shutter blade and se- 5 lectively movable from and towards the same for 2,486,169 1 l 12 increasing and decreasing, respectively, the mag- REFERENCES CITED netic inuence between said elements said ele- Q l The following references are of record in the ments so a1 ranged that they W11l be nearest each me of this patent:

other during the exposure position of said bladey and keeping means associated with said cover 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS blind for preventing the loss of magnetic energy Number Name Date of said magnet, said keeping means arranged to 1 250 354 Ricketts Dec 18 1917 be moved by said cover blind into a normal posi- 2055089 Rote Sept 22 1936 tion adjacent said magnet when the cover blind 2134982 Mock No", 1 1938 is in a rest position and to be removed therefrom 10 3471699 Magnusa' Ma'y 2 1944 by said cover blind when the cover blind is actuated to move the shutter blade.

MORRIS KAPLOWITZ.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,486,169 October 25, 1949 MORRIS KAPLOWITZ It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 10, line 12, for tensionel read tensioned;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of February, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

Certicate of Correction Patent No. 2,486,169 October 25, 1949 MORRIS KAPLOWITZ It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent, requiring correction as follows:

Column 10, line 12, for tensional read tensioned;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinfhat the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of February, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Paten'ts. 

